Author Topic: Antler nocks  (Read 20318 times)

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Offline Yeomanbowman

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Antler nocks
« on: May 24, 2007, 09:17:09 am »
In coversation with a vegan archer, I suggested using antler for nocks as they naturally drop off and can be harvested.  He had been told that deer antlers were unsuitable, I don't know why. 
If they are soaked for 2 weeks they are soft enough to work, and a further week drying enables them to be glued on.
These are some antler nocks I made and fitted to one of my self yew bows.  It's a lower weight warbow (80 at 28" and around 100 at 32") but I see no reason why they would not work on a higher warbow weight.  The antler is a lot tougher than horn but allows less artistic expression, however, they give the bow a utilitarian look that appeals to me.
Cheers,
Jeremy
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/yeomanbowman/Dscn7289.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/yeomanbowman/Dscn7285.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/yeomanbowman/Dscn7287.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/yeomanbowman/Dscn7284.jpg

SimonUK

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2007, 12:13:32 pm »
They look great Jeremy. It must be nice to have a bow thats a bit unique.

Offline mullet

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2007, 10:52:56 pm »
I think they look great.It gives it an authentic utilitarian look.
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

Offline Justin Snyder

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2007, 11:53:59 pm »
Nice bow, those tips are really cool.  Justin
Everything happens for a reason, sometimes the reason is you made a bad decision.


SW Utah

Offline Kviljo

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2007, 07:44:34 am »
The density varies quite much, from pretty spungy to rock-hard. The outer layer is usually pretty dense though. I've used antler on my latest to-be-100-120# yew bow. They haven't failed yet, but I haven't tested them too much either.

If I remember correctly, reindeer antler were imported to England from Norway in medieval times.

duffontap

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #5 on: May 25, 2007, 12:19:18 pm »
Those tips look really nice.  Here's one I did on a flatbow last summer.

      J. D. Duff

[attachment deleted by admin]

Offline ChrisD

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #6 on: May 25, 2007, 03:35:12 pm »
Lovely idea. I had the same idea myself and have some Sika deer antler in the cellar.

What deer did you use and why soak it?

ChrisD

duffontap

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #7 on: May 25, 2007, 07:20:38 pm »
I used Elk and worked it dry.

      J. D.

jb.68

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #8 on: May 28, 2007, 08:05:38 pm »
I saw these horns on saturday and they really do look very nice.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/yeomanbowman/Dscn7285.jpg
Chris, Jeremy was saying that he had to soak them for two weeks because the antler is so hard and that soaking it softens it enough to work on.

Offline ChrisD

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #9 on: May 29, 2007, 10:42:44 am »
Well, I had a bit of a play this weekend with sika deer antler. Its very very hard - more like bone than horn, in fact a lot like a flake of some kind of stone.

I'll put it in a bucket tonight and forget about it for a bit.

C

Offline Pat B

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #10 on: May 29, 2007, 11:34:27 am »
I used deer antler tips on a hickory backed ERC bow I donated at the NC State Shoot this weekend. The bow came out nice but looked like it had more set than I expected until someone mentioned I had put the nocks on backwards >:(  ;D.  Oh well, can't win them all! ::)    Pat
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

duffontap

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #11 on: May 30, 2007, 07:17:20 pm »
I used deer antler tips on a hickory backed ERC bow I donated at the NC State Shoot this weekend. The bow came out nice but looked like it had more set than I expected until someone mentioned I had put the nocks on backwards >:(  ;D.  Oh well, can't win them all! ::)    Pat

Is that even possible?

      J. D.

Offline Pat B

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2007, 01:45:28 am »
Like this...
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Pat B

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #13 on: May 31, 2007, 01:47:18 am »
oops!...Like this... ::)      Pat

[attachment deleted by admin]
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

SimonUK

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #14 on: May 31, 2007, 07:24:50 am »
It raises the question, why we have this convention of forward curving nocks? Is there any practical advantage? Could it be purely cosmetic, to give the illusion of a recurve?

I haven't tried making nocks yet, but I wonder whether these forward curving nocks just add to the weight of the tips unecessarily.